Influences of intrauterine semen administration on regulatory T lymphocytes in the oestrous mare (Equus caballus)

Hartmann, Constanze; Gerner, Wilhelm; Walter, Ingrid; Saalmüller, Armin; Aurich, Christine

doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.05.030

Cited by 6 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Seminal fluids can interact with cells in the oviduct and affect prostaglandin release (Kaczmarek et al, 2010). Seminal plasma can also have effects on the uterus and vagina by regulating inflammatory cytokine gene expression in endometrial cells, and cervical and vaginal tissues (Kaczmarek et al, 2010;Hartmann et al, 2018). The antioxidants in seminal plasma can prevent DNA damage in sperm (Dorostghoal et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extracellular vesicles from seminal plasma improved development of in vitro-fertilized mouse embryos

Wang

Qiao

et al. 2022

Zygote

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Summary In vitro fertilization (IVF) has wide application in human infertility and animal breeding. It is also used for research on reproduction, fertility and development. However, IVF embryos are still inferior to their in vivo counterparts. Some substances in seminal plasma appear to have important roles in embryo development, and during the traditional IVF procedure, the seminal plasma is washed away. In this study, extracellular vesicles (EVs) were concentrated from seminal plasma by ultracentrifugation, visualized using transmission electron microscopy, and particle size distributions and concentrations were determined with a NanoSight particle analyzer. We found particles of various sizes in the seminal plasma, the majority having diameters ranging from 100 to 200 nm and concentrations of 6.07 × 1010 ± 2.91 × 109 particles/ml. Addition of seminal plasma EVs (SP-EVs) to the IVF medium with mouse oocytes and sperm significantly increased the rate of blastocyst formation and the inner cell mass (ICM)/trophectoderm (TE) cell ratio, and reduced the apoptosis of blastocysts. Our findings provide new insights into the role of seminal plasma EVs in mediating embryo development and it suggests that SP-EVs may be used to improve the developmental competence of IVF embryos, which has important significance for assisted reproduction in animals and humans.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extracellular vesicles from seminal plasma improved development of in vitro-fertilized mouse embryos

Wang

Qiao

et al. 2022

Zygote

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“…Due to a previous report on equine peripheral Tregs, we decided to assess two populations, CD4 + FOXP3 + and CD4 + FOXP3 + CD25 + cells [ 9 , 12 ]. CD4 + FOXP3 + cells have been identified in the endometrium of pregnant [ 9 ] and non-pregnant mares [ 26 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Populations of NK Cells and Regulatory T Cells in the Endometrium of Cycling Mares—A Preliminary Study

Jaworska

Mestre

Wiśniewska

et al. 2022

Animals

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Endometrial immune cells are essential to support uterine functions across the estrous cycle and in preparation for pregnancy. It has been acknowledged that changes in phenotype and/or numbers of lymphocytes, such as regulatory T cells (Tregs) and NK cells, might result in lower fertility in women and mice. Little is known about equine endometrial immune cells across the estrous cycle. Here, we compared the populations of endometrial Tregs and NK cells in estrus and diestrus in mares. Endometrial biopsy and blood samples were taken in estrus and diestrus from 11 mares ages 4–12 years. Flow cytometry with anti-CD4, -CD25 and -FOXP3 and anti-NKp46 and -CD3 antibodies was used to determine the populations of Tregs and NK cells, respectively. The concentration of progesterone was measured with chemiluminescence immunoassay. The results were analyzed with paired Student t tests. The mean percentage of endometrial CD4+FOXP3+ Tregs was 13.7 ± 6.2% in diestrus and 14.5 ± 5.9% in estrus, while the mean percentage of endometrial CD4+FOXP3+CD25+ Tregs changed from 3.6 ± 2.1% in diestrus to 2 ± 2% in estrus (p = 0.0947). The mean proportion of CD3−NKp46+ lymphocytes in the endometrium was not significantly different, with 6 ± 1% in estrus and 6.5 ± 1.4% in diestrus. There was a large variation in the percentage of NK cells between mares of 2.1–12.7%. This study showed, for the first time, the presence of CD4+FOXP3+CD25+ Tregs and CD3−NKp46+ NK cells in the endometrium of non-pregnant cycling mares. The percentage of Tregs, and to a greater extent NK cells, showed large fluctuations between mares. Both Tregs and NK cells might be important for the preparation of the endometrium for semen deposition and pregnancy; however, further research is required.

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“…Transcription of IDO and FOXP3 have been mostly investigated in case of inflammatory stimulation in equine species [15, 16, 26]; while information in relation to the age or the degree of endometrosis is still poor. In the present investigation, no differences in transcription for IDO1 and FOXP3 genes were identified in younger and older mares, and this is partly in agreement with Schöniger et al [21], who found no difference in IDO transcription in both healthy and diseased equine endometrial specimens.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We hypothesized that the low transcription of IDO gene could confirm the lack of bacterial challenge in the endometrium of mares involved in this study, since IDO pathway is reported to be activated during bacterial invasion [16]. FOXP3 gene is usually activated by T-regulatory lymphocytes, including virus-induced proliferative lesions [15, 27]. Moreover, IDO and FOXP3 transcription could be enhanced by TGF-β, which expression is reduced both in G1 and in G2 animals [14].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Treg cells play a role in the immune response through several mechanisms, for example inhibiting immune-regulatory cytokines such as TGF-β that, in turn, increase FOXP3 transcription factor expression [14]. FOXP3 is expressed in T-regulatory lymphocytes during proliferation, and its increase is generally associated to an inflammatory response drop [15]. Moreover, in the presence of IL6, TGF-β promotes T-cell differentiation into T-helper-17 cells (Th17) and induces IDO.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Different expression of Defensin-B gene in the endometrium of mares of different age during the breeding season

et al. 2019

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BackgroundDespite being one of the major causes of infertility in mares, the mechanisms responsible for equine endometrosis are still unclear and controversial. In the last few years, many investigations focused on local immune response modulation. Since it is generally accepted that endometrial fibrosis increases with age, we hypothesize that older mares could show altered local immune modulation, initiating a pro-inflammatory and tissue remodeling cascade of events that could lead to endometrosis. The aim of this study, indeed, is to evaluate and describe the local gene expression of genes involved in acute inflammatory response and fibrosis (COL1A1, COL3A1, TNFA, MMP9, IL6, TGFB1 and TGFBR1), together with others associated to immune modulation (DEFB4B, IDO1 and FOXP3), in uterine specimens from mares of different age.ResultsTwenty-five Standardbred mares were involved in the study with age ranging from 7 to 19 years (mean 10.40 ± 4.42). They were divided by age into two groups: G1 (n = 15, less than 10 years old) and G2 (N = 10, greater than 11 years old). Specimens from the uterus’ right horn-body junction were collected and processed for histology evaluation and RT-qPCR assay.Gene expression of DEFB4B, MMP9 and TNFA was higher in younger mares, suggesting a balance in immune modulation and tissue remodeling. Interleukin-6 and COL3A1 gene expressions were greater in older animals, probably indicating inflammatory pathways activation and fibrosis increase. Although no differences in fibrosis and inflammation distribution could be found with histological examination among G1 and G2, our results suggest a possible involvement of DEF4BB in regulating the local immune response in younger mare’s uterus (G1); age may contribute to the dis-regulation of DEFB4B transcription and, indirectly, influence the extracellular matrix homeostasis. Transcription of IDO1 and FOXP3 genes, instead, does not seem to be age related, or to be involved in local immune-response and tissue remodeling functions.ConclusionsFurther investigations are needed in order to clarify the interactions between the expression of DEFB4B, IL6, TNFA, COL3A1 and MMP9 and other local signals of immune-modulation and tissue remodeling, in mares in a prospective study design.

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Influences of intrauterine semen administration on regulatory T lymphocytes in the oestrous mare (Equus caballus)

Cited by 6 publications

References 39 publications

Extracellular vesicles from seminal plasma improved development of in vitro-fertilized mouse embryos

Extracellular vesicles from seminal plasma improved development of in vitro-fertilized mouse embryos

Populations of NK Cells and Regulatory T Cells in the Endometrium of Cycling Mares—A Preliminary Study

Different expression of Defensin-B gene in the endometrium of mares of different age during the breeding season

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